Fly Fishing
in Mid Wales

GLYNDWR FISHERY, DOLANOG, WALES, U.K.

Description

The Glyndwr Fishery on the River Vyrnwy is situated in
unspoilt seclusion in the Welsh Borders at Dolanog.
It is ideal for the discerning fly fisherman for whom the nature of his
surroundings is as important as the wild fish that he catches, and for
whom the ultimate delight is to escape from the mundane world and and lose
himself in a day's fishing in a hidden valley of outstanding beauty.

The Fishery is named after the scenic Glyndwr Way, part
of which runs close to the river whilst it cuts down through a deep gorge
and around natural outcrops with steeply wooded banks. Later it passes
through hilly meadows and mature broad-leaved woodlands. The waters extend
for over two and a half miles downstream from Mill
Farm, Dolanog, towards Pontrobert. The
river is fed partly from Lake Vyrnwy approx.10
miles upstream (L.Vyrnwy pic.2) , and is guaranteed
a minimum acceptable flow all year round. This compensation water means
that the river remains fishable in drought years when its sisters in the
Severn catchment suffer badly.

This stretch of the Vyrnwy is noted primarily as a trout
river, and this section was the subject of a chapter in a treatise by Richard
Threlfall as long ago as 1947. Wild fish of 3.75lbs
and 4lbs have been taken on the fly in recent years, and the average wild
brownie tends to run to a much larger size than elsewhere on the river.
The weir at Dolanog is recognised as being the
upstream limit for salmon, and the fishery contains a many good holding
pools, although in most recent years the salmon have tended to run right
at the end of the season. There is also very good grayling fishing.

Fishing is by Fly only, unless prior authorisation is
obtained from the fishery manager for alternative methods at certain specific
times.

Only a limited number of season permits (currently 10)
are issued each year. There are also three weekly permits bookable in advance
for overseas visitors (subject to availability) ---
map of the fishery is provided with each permit.

The fishery is situated about 12 miles north-west of Welshpool,
and is about 30 miles from Shrewsbury and 30 miles from Dolgellau. The
exact location, road map and a fishery map can be found at How
to Get Here

There used to be a girder bridge below the
weir at Mill Farm, Dolanog which marked the upstream boundary of the top beat. Unfortuantely it was washed away in floods. There is now only a small lay-by marking where the bridge used to cross the river to the farmhouse and mill. This is still shown on most satnavs!

The lower end of the fishery is best approached from Pontrobert,
by taking the Dolanog and Llanfyhangel-yng-Ngwynfa road north of the river.
The lower end of the bottom beat begins on the left side of this road,
upstream of the waterfall.

Beat 1:

This is at the upstream end of the Fishery, and begins
as a single left bank stretch directly downstream of Mill
Farm, where there is still evidence of a road crossing the river before floods destroyed a girder bridge. It runs for approximately 215 yards down to the first
bend. Here the fishing becomes double bank and extends a further 400
yards to the end of the first beat, where a small burn runs in on the right
bank.

It is a very attractive stretch comprising a series of
deep holding pools, notably "Sheepwash",
"Cave", "Campers"
and "Lookout", with fast rocky runs
in between. Access to the left bank is at Mill Farm. The right bank can
be accessed on the bend of the river where there is parking in a lay-by
beside the road. Here is the beginning of the Glyndwr Way which runs close
to the river and provides access to the fishery all the way down to the
bottom of beat 3.

Beat 2:

This is left bank fishing directly downstream of Beat
1, as the river runs through a steep gorge. This is spectacular scenery
and provides exciting but challenging fishing. The rapids and deep pools
of the top part (eg "Castor" and "Pollux"
and "Long Island") are relaced
by by wider flats and glides (eg "Holly", "Beech
Tree", "Long Run" and "Jones")
which are generally good holding water for both trout and grayling.

The stream, Nant Dolwar, which enters under the timber
bridge on the left bank marks the division between beats 2 and 3.

Beat 3:

This is double bank fishing for about 750 yards. The river
is quieter through most of this section, and the left bank opens out into
a meadow for most of its length. There are two particularly large and very
deep pools in this section, "Cottage"
and "Long Pool", which always hold
a good head of fish.

The end of beat 3 and beginning of beat 4 is marked by
the fence at the end of the meadow on the left bank. There is a stile some
30 yards up from the bank.

Beat 4:

This is nearly 1500 yards of left bank fishing, running
through woodland. It is wider in places with gravelled flats and deep pools,
including "Gwern Fawr" and "Isaf"
pools: the latter is below a rocky weir, with a long gutter and runs
above.

The junction of beats 4 and 5 is where a small waterfall
runs into the tail of a pool just as the road joins the river on the left
bank.

Beat 5:

This is again left bank fishing. The road runs alongside
the river for the whole of this beat, and there are numerous places to
park on the verge. "Salmon Rock"
produces individual large brown trout (2-3lbs) every season. The succession
of glides below "Breakneck Weir"
also provide ideal habitat for large brown trout and grayling. The fishery
ends on the corner where a smaller tributary runs in uder the road.

Notes on Fishing

Approach

Trout in this fishery are generally much larger than in
most of the rest of the Vyrnwy. They also tend to be more wary and difficult
to catch. I have found that upstream fishing together with a stealthy approach
using the banks for cover brings about decidedly better results than traditional
downstream wet fly methods.

A casual approach rarely brings any success at all.

A fairly light fly line AFTM 3-5 with a cast tapering
to 1.5-2lbs at the tip is best.

Flies tied on size 14-16 hooks most frequently bring
best results, although a 12 will be accepted in high flows or when there
are mayflies on the water, and 18-20 Mike Weaver Black Gnats are good both
early and late in the season.

Favoured Flies:

Dry:

Iron Blue, Iron Blue Variant, Copper Ribbed Hare's Ear,
Tupps, GRHE and Furnace Hackle (All these fish well at times especially
if the hackle is not over thick, but is tied palmer style down the body).
Red Sedge 12-14, Grey Sedge 14-16...Grey and red sedges fish well in hot
weather. In late summer a lightly dressed size 20 blue hackle may be best
if there are caenis on the wing.

Wet:

March Brown with Silver, Spiders, esp. Partridge &
olive, Partr & Orange, Peacock & Black (this latter tied on a #12
may imitate a toad tadpole in summer), Peacock & Coch-y-Bonddu hackle.
Hans van Klinken caddis fish well in running water in the reduced flows
of high summer. Once again flies should be lightly dressed.